Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
CRUISING ALTITUDE, with Brian Harding aboard, poses with trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and groom Tamarley Bryan after his post-to-post victory in the sixth race over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. CRUISING ALTITUDE provided both Harding and Nunes with their second of three winners on the 13-race card. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVEN-TIME Trinidadian champion jockey Brian Harding all but wrapped up the race for the 2005 jockeys' title when he rode three winners at Caymanas Park on Saturday, while arch-rival Trevor Simpson came up empty handed on the 13-race programme.
With only three race days remaining this season - December 24, Boxing Day December 27 and December 31 - Harding has so far ridden 100 winners, while Simpson, who is bidding for his fourth consecutive title, was left stranded on 95.
As far as Harding supporters are concerned, the race is over. When Harding notched his 100th win aboard the progressive filly LA REINA in the closing straight five race, it was not only his first century ever in a season, but a significant milestone in the championship race.
"I would like to thank trainer Anthony Nunes and owner Elias Haloute for bringing me this far," said Harding, whose trio of winners on Saturday were for both men.
"Nunes has provided me with about 60 winners this year and I am grateful for that."
As things now stand, Simpson will literally have to pull the rabbit out of the hat in order to get back to Harding with the hours ticking away. The next race day on Christmas Eve should prove crucial for the 36-year-old jockey.
To revive his hopes, the man called 'Slicer' will definitely need to cut Harding's lead to at least three going into the last two racedays then hope for divine intervention.
If Harding slips further away on Saturday, the championship should provide him with a nice Christmas present, in much the same way the Soca Warriors gave him a fitting birthday present when qualifying for the World Cup on Wednesday, November 16. Harding marked his 42nd birthday that day.
Pressure is a funny thing. Who in their wildest dreams would imagine Simpson, on Saturday, failing to ride a winner from as many as 11 rides?
Fellow racing scribe, Francisco 'Linky' Mills, made a sailent point last week when he suggested that the turning point came last Wednesday when Harding aboard 5-2 chance CHING SING outrode Simpson in a stirring last furlong duel, gaining the ascendancy by a nose ahead of Simpson's mount, the odds-on favourite ROYAL KINGDOM.
That win not only enabled Harding to regain the lead but it provided him with bragging rights at a stage of the championship when every winner is worth its weight in gold.
From my observation, the reason why Simpson has been struggling to win the championship this season is a direct result of his break-up with leading trainer Wayne DaCosta early in the year and to a lesser extent his parting of ways with top-five trainer Richie Todd in May.
Harding, on the other hand, gets live rides on a regular basis from Nunes and Gary Subratie, not to mention DaCosta and Todd to lesser extents.
SHIP JUMPING
One 'small' trainer, who earlier this season claimed to be a Simpson supporter, has jumped ship and is now in Harding's corner.
He said: "A long time we want somebody put him under manners. A whole heap a time him 'lick my pot off a fire' and this is my way of getting back at him."
While the on-going duel between Harding and Simpson has been the focus of attention among racing fans in recent weeks, and is good for the sport, there is one disappointing aspect in my view.
Rarely has the two clashed head on in races, as was the case last Wednesday between them with CHING SING and ROYAL KINGDOM. That one brought the house down and punters are begging for more. It's the stuff that makes racing the Sport of Kings.
